Depending on your local weather
conditions during the month of October, an un-treated, carved pumpkin can have a life span any were of from a week to only a day.

The best way to make a carved pumpkin last longer is
to slow down the dehydration process and deter the on-set of mold. When pumpkins shrivel up, it's because they have lost
moisture.

You can
sometimes restore them back to their original condition by soaking them in
water overnight.

One technique is to coat all cut
surfaces of the pumpkin with petroleum jelly immediately after they have
been carved. This includes a
light coating of the entire inside of the pumpkin. If you can't do the whole inside, at
least try to coat the design that you've cut into the pumpkin.

The petroleum jelly acts as a barrier to seal in the pumpkins
internal moisture to help slow down the dehydration process of the pumpkin. You can use a
finger to coat the eyes, nose and mouth but you may want to use a paper towel with jelly
on it to coat the inside. It's less messy that way.

Because of the amount of pumpkins we
carve for Halloween, we usually carve most, if not all the pumpkins one or two days before
Halloween. Because temperature, particularly heat, it is important to move the pumpkins to
a dry, shaded area during the day. This will help to extend there life. If you have
a spare refrigerator, you can empty it out and keep them in it over night to slow down
decomposition.

Another
way to keep them fresh is to use a pumpkin dip that is available at most grocery stores or
stands that sell pumpkins during the Halloween season. Pumpkin dip is mixed with water in
a large container and the pumpkins are submerged in it, sometimes over night, in order to
preserve them. This is a tedious and messy way to keep your pumpkins fresh as you have to
do it every night after they have been carved.

Pumpkin PreserverWe have found a spray-on preserver called Pumpkin
Fresh! It's is a low cost, environmentally friendly product that impedes the
deterioration of jack-o-lanterns by deterring mold, rot and bugs. It contains all
natural ingredients and comes in a convenient spray bottle for easy application. Just
spray the inside and cut parts, let it drain if you spray too heavily and let dry. It
really does work, we use Pumpkin Fresh on our pumpkins every Halloween.Where
to Buy